Praxis Exams _Department_

SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM
PRAXIS EXAMINATIONS
PRAXIS I: During their first semester in the program, school counseling students who do not
hold any type of teacher certification in Pennsylvania must successfully complete the Praxis I-
Core Battery, consisting of 3 exams which are listed below. Praxis exams are valid for 10 years.
Test Name Code Length Qualifying Minimum
Score Score
Pre-Professional Skills (PPST) Mathematics 0730 1 hour 173 170
Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) Reading 0710 1 hour 172 169
Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) Writing 0720 1 hour 173 170
** On the Praxis I, students must have a composite score of 521 if they don’t meet the passing
score for each test; however, the total of the passing scores (passing each of the tests) is only
521, which may be confusing.
PRAXIS II: All students seeking certification as a school counselor, including those who already
hold teacher certification, must successfully complete the Praxis II-School Guidance and
Counseling Exam (20420). You must successfully complete the Praxis II examination prior to
beginning fieldwork. If you fail the Praxis II prior to fieldwork, you will need to provide
documentation that you are obtaining remediation for preparing for the Praxis II in order to be
approved for fieldwork. Please ensure that your scores are sent to Slippery Rock University.
Praxis exams are valid for 10 years.
Test Name Code Length Passing Score
School Guidance & Counseling 0420 2 hours 590
REGISTRATION: The Praxis Examinations are administered by Educational Testing Services
(ETS). You can register on-line by visiting the following address:
http://www.ets.org/teachingandlearning/index.html.
The Career Services Office at SRU can also provide you with a registration booklet and answer
any of your questions about the examinations. They can be contacted at (724) 738-2028.
PREPARATION:
Bobrow, J. (2001). Praxis I: PPST: Cliffs test prep (3rd ed.). New York: Hungry Minds (ISBN
0-7645-6397-1).
Educational Testing Service (2003). Study guide for the school leaders and services tests:
Administration and supervision, library media specialist, school psychologist, and school
guidance and counseling (Praxis II). ISBN: 0-88686-259-5. You can purchase this by
going to the following web-site and following these steps:
http://www.ets.org/praxis/prxorder.html then scroll down to where it says NEW School
Leaders and Services Study Guide (Test Codes: 0410, 0310, 0400, and 0420)
Levy, J. U., & Levy, N. (2005). Preparation for the Praxis II Exam 2006. (18th Ed.).
Lawrenceville, NJ: Peterson's Guides.
Postman, R. D. (2005). Barron's How to Prepare for the Praxis. (4th Ed.). Hauppauge, NY:
Barron’s Educational Series. ISBN: 0764123904
XAM. (2001). CST - Guidance Counseling. XAM Online.com (Publisher).
SRU offers 1-credit courses to prepare for the Praxis Core Battery tests. Call Dr. Nicholas
Neupauer at (724) 287-8711, ext. 366, or e-mail him at Nicholas.neupauer@bc3.org.
TIPS FOR PRAXIS II EXAM:
 The following link should take students and anyone else interested to an overview of the
test, including sample questions http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/PRAXIS/pdf/0420.pdf
 The test is a combination of multiple choice and short answer. One section asks you to
listen to a tape of counseling sessions and to bubble the answer you think describes
something about the emotion, possible responses, etc. This can be problematic as some
would like to ask the client more clarifying questions before coming to any such
―conclusion‖ about what was said (or how it was said).
 Tests may vary in their questions, but it seems like the majority of questions were
focused on career/guidance issues.
 Polish the skills needed for short answer responses because many students run out of
time. Possibly set a time-limit for each question (based on how many questions are in
each section and the time provided).
 Take more than two #2 pencils! Do not bring mechanical pencils.
COMPUTERIZED PRAXIS I TESTING (PPST)
Praxis I exams (PPST Reading, PPST Writing, and PPST Math) are available at Computer-Based
Testing Centers (CBT) across the country. Following is information about the computerized
PPST and the closest testing centers to Slippery Rock University.
 If you need to take more than one test, try to schedule and pay for them all at once even if
you arrange to take them on multiple days. One test costs $80, 2 tests $120, and 3 tests
$160. The Combined PPST Test (all 3 tests in a single testing session) costs $130. See
the 2007-08 Praxis Series Information Bulletin, available at www.ets.org/praxis, for more
details.
 Each Computerized PPST is approximately 2 hours long including tutorials and the
collection of background information from test takers. The Combined Test is 4.5 hours
long with one 15-minute break.
 Call the center of your choice ahead of time to register for testing. You will need a credit
card. Have several dates in mind in case your first choice is not available. Directions for
paying by check are on page 17 of the Praxis Series Information Bulletin.
 For further information, see the Praxis Series Information Bulletin or visit Praxis online.
(www.ets.org/praxis) Additional CBT centers are listed on the Praxis website.
Erie, Pennsylvania--Sylvan Prometric Testing: (814) 864-6100
Testing available Monday - Saturday.
The earliest appointment is 9am.
The latest, for 1 test, is 3pm on Monday - Thursday. The latest for combined tests is 1:00pm
Monday - Thursday. Friday is between 9am and 12:00 pm. Saturday until 2:00pm.
Saturdays and Fridays fill up much more quickly than the rest of the week so call a month in
advance.
*For now this facility is accepting walk-ins – you must pay that day.
*Payments made through credit card/checks.
Driving directions: Take I-79 North to I-90 E exit (to Buffalo). Take exit 24 US-19/Peach St.
Go left onto US-19 North. The testing center is 3 lights up 19N in the plaza to the right of Sam’s
Club.
Indiana, Pennsylvania- IUP University Testing Center: (724) 357-4994
Testing hours change each semester; please call for the accurate times.
Testing available Monday – Friday and usually one or two Saturdays a month.
*The heaviest testing times are from mid-October through December. Register early for a fall
semester testing time. Spring semester usually is more open for scheduling.
Driving directions: Take Route 8 to Butler. Take 422 East to Indiana. Follow signs for 422 E
toward Indiana. Take the Philadelphia St. Exit and follow it into town. Turn right onto 9th
Street. Go straight through the light at Church Street and make the first left after the light onto
School Street. Turn right onto Pratt Drive. It’s the first building on the left. Go to 311 Pratt
Hall.
Niles, Ohio—Sylvan Prometric Testing: (330) 652-1886
Testing available Monday - Saturday by appointment only.
The earliest appointment is 10am.
The latest time varies. (Usually 1:00pm or 1:30pm)
*Saturdays fill up much more quickly than the rest of the week, so call well in advance.
Driving Directions: Take I-80 West into Ohio. Take exit for 11N (right) to Warren/Ashtabula.
Take 1st exit Tibbettswick. Turn left. Go to light and turn right onto 422. Pass Pontiac
dealership on left. At light there will be a Country Fair Gas Station on the left corner. Including
the gas station it’s the 5th building on the left. If you get to Route 46 intersection, you have gone
too far.
Pittsburgh Area Locations
North Hills—Prometric Testing Center: (412) 367-4620
Testing available Monday thru Saturday.
The earliest appointment is 8:00am.
The latest, for 1 test, is 5pm Monday and Wednesday, and 7:00pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Friday and Saturday the latest is 4:00pm provided that you are only taking one test.
*Fridays and Saturdays fill very fast. Call at least a month in advance.
*Walk-in availability is determined by the schedule.
Driving directions: Take 79 South to Cranberry exit (19 S). Follow Route 19 South for approx. 7
miles. Once you are through Wexford get in right lane. Follow the sign to McKnight Rd. Stay
on McKnight Rd. for approx. 3 miles. Look for TGIFriday’s and Lonestar on your left. Turn
left at next light and stay in left lane onto Corporate Dr. Fourth building including Lonestar is
THREE CORPORATE CENTER. Second floor Suite 280.
University of Pittsburgh Computerized Testing: (412) 624-9103
Testing is available Monday through Saturday.
Two sessions are available Monday through Saturday; they are generally 8am and 12pm.
Tuesday three sessions are available; they are at 8am, 12pm, and 4:30pm.
*During Summer- facility closed on Mondays, sessions available on Wednesdays at 8am&12pm
and on Thursdays & Fridays at 8am only.
*Fridays and Saturdays fill very quickly (call 1to 1.5 months in advance).
*Walk-ins are not recommended.
*Summer invites walk-ins as well as a two week notice
Driving directions: Take I-79 south to I-279 south. Take I-279 south to I-376 east. Get off I-
376 east at the Forbes Ave. /Oakland exit. Take Forbes Ave. for approx. ½ mile. Turn onto
Bigelow Blvd. The large building is the Cathedral of Learning. Testing center is in the
Cathedral on the ground floor room G-35.
Monroeville, PA-Corporate 1: (412) 372-2290
The testing center is open Monday and Thursday 8 am to 9 pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 8 am to
7 pm; Friday and Saturday 8 am to 5 pm.
Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays fill very quickly. Call in advance.
You may pay over the phone or through the ETS website (must have a credit card at hand).
*Test taker must present either a valid driver’s license or passport.
Driving directions: Take the PA turnpike (I-76 East). Get off at Exit 57. Stay to the left, as
you exit. Take US 22. Get into the left lane. Turn left onto PA 48 South. Go through 2 lights,
and at the 2nd light turn right onto Northern Pike. There will be a Sunoco station on your left
and an Exxon catty-corner. Follow to the bottom of the hill. (Note: The street name changes to
Monroeville Blvd.) Follow to the 2nd light and make a right turn. To the left, will be
CORPORATE 1 Building 1. The address is Monroeville Blvd. Building 1, 4th floor, Suite 425.
(8/31/07)